(1) The public disclosure commission (PDC) was created and empowered by initiative of the people to provide timely and meaningful public access to information about the financing of political campaigns, lobbyist expenditures, and the financial affairs of public officials and candidates, and to ensure compliance with this chapter.

(2) Full and prompt access to the information required by persons subject to the law is best realized through use of electronic reporting. For this reason, the Washington state legislature and the commission have mandated the use of electronic reporting, and the commission also requires that other materials, such as applications, statements, notices, payments, or other items required under the provisions of chapter 42.17A RCW be submitted to the PDC electronically, where the PDC has made an electronic method available.

(3) Persons subject to reporting requirements under this chapter must file reports using the electronic reporting method provided or approved by the PDC.

(4) Persons required to provide the PDC with electronic contact information must provide an email address or other electronic format, if such alternate format has been approved by the PDC.

(5) Any person required to provide information electronically, or required to provide electronic contact information, but who does not do so, is in violation of RCW 42.17A.055 and may be subject to enforcement action unless the person has sought and been granted an exception under WAC 390-19-050.